‘Our Fashion Blueprint’: UK students ready to showcase Color Me Kentucky Fashion Show
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 1, 2026) — For years, the Color Me Kentucky Fashion Show has drawn students, designers and community members together for a night that blends creativity, culture and Kentucky pride. Known for its energetic runway and locally inspired looks, the annual event has become a springtime favorite — celebrating vibrant fashion, emerging talent and the unique sense of style rooted in the Commonwealth.
The University of Kentucky Department of Retailing and Tourism Management, housed within the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE), is hosting its annual Color Me Kentucky Fashion Show on April 16. All UK students, faculty, staff and community members are invited.
Themed “Our Fashion Blueprint,” this year’s event will be hosted at the UK Gatton Student Center Ballrooms and presented by students in the college’s Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles program (MAT). The students chose this theme to show Kentucky’s vibrant fashion, celebrating the intersection of style, creativity and Kentucky’s unique spirit.
“As a faculty member, I love working on the Color Me Kentucky Fashion Show with students each spring,” said Scarlett Wesley, Ph.D., fashion show course instructor. “I get to see firsthand how this real-world experience gives students confidence and allows them to build invaluable teamworking skills. Students also get to practice problem solving, which will help them when they later enter the job market.”
UK students enrolled in the Creating Consumer Experiences course oversee every aspect of the show, including curating the clothing attire, marketing and promotion, and choosing and decorating the event space.
Abby Jane Fulkerson, the fashion show student director and a senior majoring in marketing and MAT at UK, believes that all the students’ hard work will be evident at the event.
“I am thrilled to be able to charm the audience with all of our looks and hard work put into the show,” Fulkerson said. “This class has put so much effort into each aspect of the show, and I cannot wait to showcase it on April 16.”
Maddie Hess, the fashion show event coordinator and a senior studying MAT and marketing at UK, is excited to take what students are learning in class and create an unforgettable experience for attendees.
“This year we’ve been thinking a lot about the attendee experience and how to make the show feel more interactive and memorable, so we’re adding some new elements that haven’t been done before to make the event feel extra special,” Hess said.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and guests can enjoy a cocktail hour and a silent auction through 7:30 p.m. The runway show is 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Leigh Jordan and Tamara Schneider, lifestyle hosts of FOX 56 News’ “Live from Chevy Chase,” are returning this year as the masters of ceremonies.
Student tickets are $25 and include seating in a designated student area and a gift bag. General admission tickets are $65. VIP and sponsorship packages are also available.
Learn more and attend the show by purchasing tickets at rtm.mgcafe.uky.edu/color-me-spring-fashion-show.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.